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The Socceroos aim to secure their ticket to the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia when they face Honduras in the second leg of their qualifying tie at ANZ Stadium in Sydney on Wednesday night.

Win and they’re in - it’s a simple equation for both the Socceroos and Honduras as they jet to Sydney for Wednesday night’s do-or-die World Cup qualifying showdown.

From a Socceroos perspective, they will be feeling a lot better about their performance in the opening leg than the Honduran outfit. Australia produced their best away display in a long while, fighting off an intimidating atmosphere in San Pedro Sula and conjuring up the best chances of the match.

Before the game, most Australians would have been happy with a goalless draw in Honduras, but by the end of the 90 minutes it was a largely frustrating feeling as the Socceroos wasted a number of golden opportunities to take a precious away goal back to Sydney.

Tom Juric missed the best chance of the game as he scuffed a one-on-one shot against the keeper wide, while he also fired a free header over the bar from close range. Goals have been a big problem for the Socceroos this qualifying campaign, and you’ve got to wonder if they will be made to rue those missed chances.

Australia have conceded goals against the likes of Syria, Thailand and Saudi Arabia at home since March, so it’s by no means a foregone conclusion that they’ll keep a clean sheet on Wednesday night. Which means the Socceroos need to score, but they’ll have increased attacking power this time around, with Matthew Leckie and Robbie Kruse returning from suspension, while Tom Rogic should get a start and Tim Cahill will be further recovered from an ankle injury.

It will also be interesting to see how Postecoglou sets up the side with Leckie back. Josh Risdon, a genuine wingback, was great in San Pedro Sula, while Leckie - by no fault of his own, he’s simply not a defensive-oriented player - can struggle to track back in Postecoglou’s preferred formation.

Mile Jedinak was also a massive inclusion in the first leg, with his mere presence in the middle of the park enough to steel and anchor the Socceroos’ midfield with authority. Massimo Luongo also played his best match in a Socceroos jersey since the Asian Cup.

Australia also have the advantage of receiving a luxury chartered flight back to Australia and arrived in Sydney more than 24 hours before the Honduran side.

I was pleasantly surprised by the courageous Socceroos performance on Friday, and everything in the second leg is in their favour. Goals are an issue, but Australia have an excellent record at ANZ Stadium, winning nine of their last 10 games at the venue, and in front of a big home crowd, they should have just enough firepower to get over the line.